Marvel's The Punisher: "Home"Review

“Home” would have made an excellent season finale, but there’s still one more episode left before it’s time to say goodbye to the bloody adventures of Frank Castle. This episode was a shining example of how good The Punisher can be when it gets everything right.

The imagery used throughout was stellar. Frank’s visions of Maria provided more valuable insight into his past. This wasn’t a physical struggle for Frank, but more of a mental one. He wants to die because he doesn’t believe he deserves to live. While highly unlikely, Bernthal deserves an Emmy nomination for his performance here.

Marvel's CinemaScores: What Audiences Think About the MCU

10+ IMAGES

Fullscreen Image

Artboard 3 Copy

Artboard 3

ESC

01 OF 20

The Marvel Cinematic Universe isn't just one of the biggest franchises in Hollywood -- it's also among the most consistent when it comes to the all-important CinemaScore ranking. Here's how each MCU movie fared with audiences, and how that compared to the critical consensus and the box office gross.

01 OF 20

The Marvel Cinematic Universe isn't just one of the biggest franchises in Hollywood -- it's also among the most consistent when it comes to the all-important CinemaScore ranking. Here's how each MCU movie fared with audiences, and how that compared to the critical consensus and the box office gross.

Marvel's CinemaScores: What Audiences Think About the MCU

Marvel Studios

Download Image

Captions

ESC

All season, Frank has been running into danger, only to come out soaked in the blood of his victims. He’s driven by his desire for vengeance above all else, but then there are those moments when he protects people, like Karen and David’s family. Frank has a desire to live, but for what purpose?

The show has done a fantastic job of expanding Frank’s character beyond a simple killing machine. Bernthal has also been instrumental in making this depiction of Castle so thrilling to watch. With all of that being said, it's difficult to know where Frank will go from here.

“Home” was brilliant at providing the viewer a window into Frank’s mind. There are two options for him to choose from; either go to his wife and children in death or live and fight another day. On the surface, these choices are fairly simplistic, but there’s more to his decision that will have repercussions moving forward. While it wasn’t much of shock to see Frank come out of this alive, the reasons behind his choice are where it gets interesting.

New Marvel's The Punisher Photos

10+ IMAGES

Fullscreen Image

Artboard 3 Copy

Artboard 3

ESC

01 OF 33

Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle and Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page.

01 OF 33

Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle and Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page.

New Marvel's The Punisher Photos

Netflix.

Download Image

Captions

ESC

Maria is trying to get Frank to come with her, yet Frank would rather stay tethered to our reality in order to finish killing those who have betrayed him. What’s devastating here is that Frank’s whole life is dedicated to killing. David’s pleas for his friend were touching, but that’s not what’s keeping Frank alive. His need to finish off Rawlins and Billy outweigh anything else he might desire.

Another noteworthy moment was Billy and Frank’s one-on-one time together. Rawlins may have barked like the big dog, but Billy was the better antagonist throughout the season. Billy’s origin story was compelling and like Frank in this episode, the writers provided more insight into Billy’s motivations.

All of this was effective, due to Billy’s tremendous character development. After his monologue at his mother’s hospital bedside, it makes sense why he would do the things he’s done. Frank had his wife to come home to, while Billy had nothing. His own mother disowned him, so now he’s trying to make his own way in the world at whatever cost. That’s not meant to excuse his actions, but his motivations are believable. Seeing Frank cry after learning about Billy’s involvement in the death of his family was heartbreaking. Billy and Frank’s time on-screen has been limited this season, but highly effective.

Every Major Alien Race in the MCU

10+ IMAGES

Fullscreen Image

Artboard 3 Copy

Artboard 3

ESC

01 OF 41

Here's every major alien race we've seen in the MCU... so far. Some have distinctive characteristics and cultures, some are the result of filling in the blanks between the movies and the comics. Check them all out right here!

01 OF 41

Here's every major alien race we've seen in the MCU... so far. Some have distinctive characteristics and cultures, some are the result of filling in the blanks between the movies and the comics. Check them all out right here!

Every Major Alien Race in the MCU

Download Image

Captions

ESC

David has gone through his own kind of metamorphosis. In the beginning, he was just a bum in a robe living in a basement. Now, his outlook on the world is changing. Like all good character progressions, his change is a subtle one that the writers have crafted well. It’s noticeable when he’s talking to Madani about justice. He says that there’s no such thing as justice, and becoming like the people you hate is the only way to get what you want. That’s Frank’s view of the world and it has rubbed off on his roommate. Now that David has his family back, will he simply go back to living a normal life, or get a new home base for Team Punisher’s future operations? The latter seems more likely.

“Home” was one of the best episodes this season, but there is still the lingering question of where Madani fits in with all of this chaos? Everyone else around her is tied to something integral to the story. Frank is out for vengeance, David is trying to bring his family back together, and Billy is on his way to becoming a legendary villain. So, where does that leave Madani? Amber Rose Revah has portrayed her character well, but the writers haven’t given her much to work with. She still feels like an outsider compared everyone else. Hopefully, she’ll have more to do in Season 2.

The Verdict

“Home” is arguably the best episode of the season, featuring compelling performances from Bernthal, Ross-Bachrach, and Barnes. Frank’s constant struggle to choose between life and death made for an engaging hour of television. Billy is also coming into his own as the show’s primary antagonist.

Amazing

The best episode of the season lead by Bernthal's memorable performance.